Archive for the ‘Equipment - Non-Power’ Category
February 7, 2009 – New Hay Feeder
Another accoutrement that we now need is a hay feeder. Now that the weather has warmed to the upper 40’s, it’s possible to get outside and do stuff.
I copied this design from a photo in a sheep raising book, except I added the hardware cloth bottom and wheels, and made it a bit taller than ...Read more.
October 28, 2008 – Soap Cutting
It was another round of soap-making this week-end. I thought it would be a good time to show the final stages of soap making.
About 12 hours after pouring into the mold, this batch was ready to cut. You can tell when it is ready when the soap barely indents to a strong touch.
The soap mold ...Read more.
September 26, 2008 – Stainless Steel Milk Cans
I was in Marshalltown shuttling kids and had about 45 minutes to kill, so I stopped in at a couple of garage sales.
I found these stainless steel milk jugs shoved under a table of clothes. I didn’t hesitate too long before buying them for 5 bucks each. When I got home and did a search ...Read more.
July 21, 2008 – Red Green Alive and Well at High Hopes!
Today’s creation is inspired by Handyman’s Corner from the Red Green TV show.
To many of you, this might look like an old, tired gas grill that missed trips to the dump over the last two years. But sometimes keeping things around too long pays off. We also have an old cooktop from the kitchen remodeling ...Read more.
May 2, 2008 – Up and Coming Materials Engineer?
I was in and out of the workshop this afternoon and when I returned one time, Martin had a piece of wood in the bench vice and was trying to turn it to observe, and ultimately try to break the wood. Dad counseled him that it is indeed important work, that we should try ...Read more.
April 19, 2008 – Moving Fence
After another rainy week, it’s important to keep moving ahead, even though the saturated ground prevents us from getting the new trees and grapes in the ground. So today, we moved a fence to enlarge an exclosure in the pasture to accommodate the trees, even though we can’t plant them yet. With saturated ...Read more.
April 8, 2008 – In the Bag
I have another scrounging success story. I saw bags like this giant bulk bag outside a local feed mill. It looked like they were throwing them away. They were, so I picked up a few. I think they are called spout bags. These bags carried one ton of dried whey.
You may notice the round cut-out ...Read more.
March 15, 2008 – Maple Sugaring
Today we had a bit of a treat with an introdcution to maple sugaring at Morning Sun Farm. It looks like I’m following the sugar – a few weeks ago we walked through a sugar cane plant, now through maple syruping in Iowa.
Here the “Sapmaster” and one of his daughters check on the sap flow. ...Read more.
February 22, 2008 – Organic Farm Tour/Wal-Mart Brokers
Our first tour was to an organic farm. The farm was located up in the mountains outside of San Jose, the capital city.
The man in the white hat is the farm operator and the woman is the daughter of one of the professors at the University of Costa Rica who came along as the interpreter. ...Read more.
February 12, 2008 – Mystery Package
Everyone, including the delivery driver, didn’t know what to expect in this 6 foot high package that was dropped off while I was at work.
Even though it was about 6 feet tall, the shipping charge was only $10.16. The family is never too sure what might be in the mail at high hopes.
Mystery revealed – ...Read more.
October 2, 2007 – Chelsea the Mini Horse in Permanent Home
This week the kids (even Martin) worked hard getting the rest of the corn cobs out of the horse stall. It became a bit more imperative as I want to start working on the hog barn soon and can’t when she was in there for temporary lodging. So I whipped up this gate to fit ...Read more.
September 9, 2007 – File Under: It Works
Joel Salatin would be proud of this cheap and easy temporary turkey shelter. The turkeys used to be in the “turkey tractor” (the moveable pen that is now upside down on the old hay wagon). But they were getting too big, so I just put a tarp over part of the wagon for rain protection, put ...Read more.
August 15, 2007 – Building the Hives
You’re all probably as sick of the heat as me, so I won’t even go there. Things have slowed down over the past few weeks. But today GJ got out to build some bee frames.
But today GJ got out to build some bee frames.
It’s practically an assembly line with Martin to help paint!
one year ago…
August 4, 2007 – Gourd Tunnel
The gourd tunnel is finally in full force. Check out the same place in April.
There is still a cabbage or two underneath, but most of the cauliflower and broccoli are gone and it is time for the gourd to have its time in the sun.
one year ago…
